SIDNEY, Neb, - Phillip Black who is a representative for Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) that serves the Third District of Nebraska met with the Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday to provide updates from Washington.

Black said that the republicans have released their tax reform blueprint. The objective is to simplify the tax code by lowering rates, broadening the base, closing loopholes and making the corporate tax rate more competitive, and easing tax burden on small businesses.

The Farm Bill expires next year and Congressman Smith has been getting feedback through Farm Bill listening tour sessions that the price in revenue support programs are administratively difficult. Many farmers are having problems getting through the administrative process.

Smith has said that, “sound agricultural policies are a crucial part of ensuring farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to succeed and that getting these policies right will help producers overcome challenges they face and ensure the third district remains the top-producing agriculture district in the country.”

Commissioner Philip Sanders commented that, “ag affects everyone in the US and in the world, without it they don’t eat, many are mislead that farmers are wealthy when a large majority aren’t.” Sanders added that, “something has to change and it’s going to have to happen quick.”

Congressman Smith also introduced a resolution in the House to urge the Trump administration to begin the process of establishing a trade agreement with Japan. Australia’s trade agreement with Japan has brought the tariff on its frozen beef down to 27 percent, compared to the nearly 40 percent tariff applied to U.S. beef. With this hike to 50 percent, US producers will face nearly double the tariff as their Australian counterparts. Smith thinks that producers can meet demand from Japanese consumers if trade barriers are removed.